California CodesCalifornia Constitution - CONSArticle I — Declaration of RightsSection 14

Felonies shall be prosecuted as provided by law, either by indictment or, after examination and commitment by a magistrate, by information.

A person charged with a felony by complaint subscribed under penalty of perjury and on file in a court in the county where the felony is triable shall be taken without unnecessary delay before a magistrate of that court. The magistrate shall immediately give the defendant a copy of the complaint, inform the defendant of the defendant’s right to counsel, allow the defendant a reasonable time to send for counsel, and on the defendant’s request read the complaint to the defendant. On the defendant’s request the magistrate shall require a peace officer to transmit within the county where the court is located a message to counsel named by defendant.

A person unable to understand English who is charged with a crime has a right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings.

Notes

Requires felony prosecution by indictment or, after magistrate examination and commitment, information, and prompt presentation of a charged person before a magistrate. Requires a complaint copy, counsel notice and reasonable contact opportunity, requested reading and message transmission, and an interpreter throughout criminal proceedings for a person unable to understand English.

Use as reference

Lexinter.net | Cal. Const. art. I, § 14 | https://laws.lexinter.net/constitution/california/article-i/section-14

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